BHOPAL/JABALPUR: Madhya Pradesh high court took suo motu cognisance on Wednesday of state minister Vijay Shah’s remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, one of the two officers who were the face of the Indian armed forces during Operation Sindoor, and ordered the state DGP to register an FIR against him for using “gutter language” against a woman Army officer.SEE ALSO: MP minister Vijay Shah moves Supreme Court after HC orders FIR over ‘gutter language’ against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi
The court ordered that the case be listed on top of the case list on Thursday and warned that if the FIR isn’t filed by then, the DGP will face contempt proceedings. The FIR is to be filed under BNS Section 152, 196(1)(b) (promoting enmity) and 197(a)(c) with immediate effect.
Minister’s comments disparaging not just to the officer but to armed forces itself: HC
A division bench of Justice Atul Shreedharan and Justice Anuradha Shukla said: “This court has been compelled to take up this matter suo motu on account of an incident published in various newspapers and digital media networks that has taken place at a public function at village Raikunda in Ambedkar Nagar, at Mhow, on Monday. A sitting minister of Madhya Pradesh govt, whose name is Vijay Shah, has used scurrilous language against a senior official of the Indian Army.”The judges said the armed forces are perhaps the “last institution existing in this country”, reflecting integrity, industry, discipline, sacrifice, selflessness, character, honour and indomitable courage, with which any citizen of this country who values the same can identify themselves with. India’s armed forces have been “targeted by Vijay Shah who has used the language of the gutters”, the court said.“…the minister made a nauseating remark against Col Qureshi by way of an innuendo which can refer to none other than her alone, as there is no one else who would fit the description of the comment made by the minister,” the bench said. “There are newspaper reports and a plethora of digital material on the internet in which the minister’s speech is clear and unequivocal… His comments are disparaging and dangerous not just to the officer in question but to the armed forces itself,” the HC said.His comment “encourages feelings of separatist activities…which endangers the sovereignty or unity and integrity of India. Thus this court is satisfied that first offence made out against him is under BNS Sec 152”, the court said. The bench added that BNS Sec 196 (1b)would be, prima facie, applicable as Col Qureshi is an adherent of Muslim faith.
